Beaver safari, Sweden

A couple of hours from Stockholm is a lake, a forest, and 12 primitive huts. They used to be used by charcoal-makers – now they're holiday homes for nature lovers. From your forest base you can go on a beaver or moose safari or track wolves, plus there is free use of a rowing boat to explore the lake.• Tourdust (020-3291 2907, tourdust.com) has three nights' B&B and a beaver safari from £220pp. Transport is not included: take a train from Stockholm to Köping and a bus to Skinnskatteberg

Frog safari, South Africa

A lion's roar is nothing compared with the cacophony of mating frogs … A growing number of South African lodges are catering to visitors' curiosity about these amphibians, offering nocturnal "frogging" safaris during the rainy season (November-March) to spot rare species.• Amakhosi luxury safari lodge (+27 034 414 1157, amakhosi.com) in the Amazulu game reserve, Zululand, offers an all-inclusive package, including game drives and frogging expeditions, for £300pp per night based on two sharing

Bat safari, Zambia

Forget migrating wildebeest – a truly amazing wildlife spectacle takes place every year in Zambia, when up to 10m bats descend on the fruit trees of a swamp forest in the Kasanka national park. From your 60-foot treetop hide, you'll have a bat's-eye view of the action when the bats fly off to feed at sunset.• Rainbow Tours (020-7226 1004, rainbowtours.co.uk) has a seven-night all-inclusive trip in late November/early December from £3,490pp, including a three-night bat safari and all domestic flights

Bird safari, Peru

Discover hundreds of tropical birds on an expedition through the rainforests and cloud forests of Peru, including a night spent in a treehouse in the Tambopata national park. Tracker guides will help you identify bird species, songs and mating calls, as well as exotic insects and plants.• Inkaterra (+51 1610 0400, inkaterra.com) has a 10-night itinerary from £2,097pp, excluding international flights

Pygmy elephant conservation safari, Borneo

Only around 150 pygmy elephants remain in the Borneo rainforest. Why not devote your holiday to helping to save them? On a waterborne safari, you'll observe and record the riverside herds, help restore their habitat and educate local schoolchildren. You'll also be involved with orangutan conservation, and you might even spot proboscis monkeys, too. • Responsible Travel (01273 600030, responsibletravel.com) has a 12-day safari from £1,195pp, staying in a village B&B. Includes meals but excludes international flights